"For the fallen ...."

These are the third and fourth stanzas of a poem composed in September of 1914 by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943), English poet and scholar, just after the outbreak of the First World War. The British Expeditionary Force had suffered fatalities in its first encounter with the Imperial German Army at the Battle of Mons in August and many more in subsequent engagements, including the First Battle of the Marne, Sept. 5-9.

Too old to enlist in the military, Binyon later volunteered for the Red Cross instead, serving as a medical orderly during the war, caring for the wounded.

Binyon said years later that the four lines of the fourth stanza came to him first --- and they remain the most familiar, universally appropriate for any day of remembrance.

In respectful remembrance of Richard and Robert, Bobby and Jim --- and many others ....

The 1944 war of words regarding Freedom Cemetery

Cemetery maintenance --- in Chariton a city responsibility and elsewhere a task for township trustees (and our excellent Pioneer Cemetery Commission) --- can become an issue in Lucas County as Memorial Day approaches. Loved ones on their annual pilgrimages sometimes do not find conditions to their liking.

That's generally a factor of weather conditions combined with the challenges of finding responsible contractors to keep these hallowed grounds clipped and trimmed. Sometimes there are other factors. Back in 1944, it was World War II.

William H. "Bill" Ashby's letter to The Chariton Leader about the state of Freedom Cemetery (and the challenges encountered when getting there), published on June 1, might have been accepted as constructive criticism, however, had he not targeted both supervisors and trustees with a weaponized Bible verse (Proverbs 24:30), "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding ....," not just once, but twice, first at the beginning and then at the end of his letter.

In between, Mr. Ashby complained about the difficulty encountered while driving from Chariton to Freedom (the roads still were dirt and a culvert was out; he and his family had walked the final quarter mile to the cemetery); the fact some of the stones were in poor condition; and that a grass fire had gotten out of control, blackening a few stones, burning the rose bush on John Burley's grave and damaging the evergreen that Nettie Fluke had brought all the way from the Ozarks to plant at her parents' grave. And there were a few allegations about misspent tax dollars, too.

The supervisors and the trustees called Mr. Ashby's hand with a letter to the editor published in The Herald-Patriot of June 8, upping the ante a little with some mild cursing --- very rare indeed in Chariton newspapers of that era. Here's the letter:

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As township trustees, we wish to tell the public that we realize the cemeteries of Warren township are not in good shape, and never were cleaned up as we would like to clean them, for which we are sorry. Also, the Freedom road was put on a three year program before the war started for surfacing. In fact, three roads were picked for the program, all leading to cemeteries. It is not our fault or the Board of Supervisors either that they were not rocked before this.

In reply to William Ashby, we wish to say that the man who did the work on Freedom cemetery is a respected citizen of Lucas county and has a very fine family with two sons in the service and another likely to go, fighting our war. When he was doing the best he could under the circumstances, it was very humiliating and uncalled for to have him published in the Chariton newspapers as a "vandal." Did you know, Bill, that one of the trustees took valuable time and gas coupons, namely A coupons, to try to find someone to clean the cemeteries? That by the time they were found, the trustee did not have coupons or gas enough to take his family to the Chariton cemetery to visit the family graves?

That he did not have time to go to the ration board and apply for the gas? That his family did not get to the cemetery on or before Decoration Day? That this was done without compensation for time or mileage? Bill, did you know that a very few people have raised so much hell about Freedom cemetery in the past that it is almost impossible to get anyone to care for it? The "vandal" has informed us that he will not go back any more to clean it. 

Did you know that we have the tax levy not spent on cemeteries in the First State Bank or that we do not get enough money to keep the cemeteries mowed all year? Have you ever cleaned up a cemetery that has bluestem and wire grass on it? Did you realize that the trustees receive $12 to $20 per year for township business and no compensation or mileage for looking after the cemeteries? That the other two cemeteries are cared for in the same manner and no fuss has been made? Did it every occur to you that a bunch of prowling youngsters might have knocked those monuments off their base? Has it ever occurred to you that cooperation from those interested in the cemetery would be far more helpful in getting the work done that airings in the Chariton newspapers?

Have you ever met with the board of trustees of Warren township in regard to the care of Freedom cemetery? Is any of your tax money spent to care for Freedom cemetery? Did you know that the so-called "vandal" drove right to the cemetery before Decoration Day? Did you know that some parties drove into the cemetery Decoration Day? And that the trustees did the same June 4th. Many more questions might be asked if space permitted. There's a war on, Bill, and if you want to care for Freedom cemetery the job is yours.

We have done the best we could and if it will make anyone feel any better, let them get the steam off their chest by giving us an airing through the Chariton newspapers.

(Signed) Deane Taylor, O.R. Clevenger, W.A. Swainey and Board of Trustees of Warren Township.

P.S. --- Will be looking for you to come out and clean the cemetery.

Something appropriate for your 1928 Model A

This is one of those small Lucas County-related curiosities that make their way home to the museum now and then, courtesy of families long gone. It was delivered to the Lucas County Historical Society Museum this week with other items by Jona Forbes of Spirit Lake and is related to the family of her mother, Mary Elizabeth Flynn Stahl (1901-1991).

Mrs. Stahl was born in Lucas County and graduated from Chariton High School, but after college married John B. Stahl in 1939, then spent the balance of her life at Ocheyedan.

This was intended to be installed on an automobile back in 1928 when it and others like it were sold as a fund-raiser by members of Carl L. Caviness American Legion Post No. 102. Although cast from pot metal, it was manufactured by the Golden Gate Brass Manufacturing Co., San Francisco.

Looking ahead to the 1928 general election, The Chariton Leader of Aug. 21, 1928, mentioned the device in an editorial paragraph, as follows: "The local American Legion post have sponsored and made a unique automobile plate having cut-out letters, 'Chariton, Heart of the Corn Belt.' Probably all the campaign orators and Midwest congressmen will want one of these on their running gears."

Parsley, sage, rosemary & repairs ...

This is what passes for the Lucas County Historical Society Museum herb garden, begun several years ago in a patch of sun-baked and otherwise unproductive earth alongside the back porch of the A.J. Stephens House --- in part because nothing else interesting would grow there.

We're in the process of having some repairs done to the porch, so I took these shots late yesterday, just in case it got trampled (doesn't look like it will). I'm due to meet Andy and Willie at the house at 7:30 this morning to let them in, so we'll see. 

Some plants have flourished here --- lavender loves the location, as does rue, marjoram and thyme. The broad-leaf parsley looks like it will do well. Elsewhere, the tarragon straggled through the winter, the oregano and rosemary are recently planted, mint is launching its annual effort to conquer this little square of the world, but the chives and sage, close to the wall, have never been happy here.

This is the date stone for the house, originally located elsewhere on the grounds but moved here more than 50 years ago when the south entrance to the circle drive around the house was moved farther down the hill. A. (Andrew Jackson) Stephens built it for his family in 1911.

It's a very sturdy building, but a money pit. In recent years it's been treated to a new roof and entirely rewired. We had it sealed against bats last year (hopefully that holds) and had quite a few interior wall surfaces repaired. This year, it's the porch --- and later on in the summer the entire building will be tuckpointed.

We're going to open to the public on June 1 --- for the first time in more than a year. Actually, the museum never has been exactly closed. The office has remained open, the work has continued and guests who called to make appointments after mandates were lifted were shown around. But after June 1, we'll be open 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and at other times by appointment through the end of October. Admission is free.

We've not scheduled any public events this summer, but are monitoring the COVID-19 situation and if the outlook remains positive as the summer progresses may plan a gathering in the fall.

The other big news of the day is that I'm finally going to get a decent hair cut today. Another cause for celebration.

That's the way in San Jose (and elsewhere) ...

First of all, The Onion, which describes itself as "America's Finest News Source," is satire although the uninitiated sometimes are confused about that. But secondly, there's generally a substantial grain of truth in what's written there about serious matters. Like the mass shooting that by now has claimed nine lives in San Jose, California.

The brief piece begins, "In the hours following a violent rampage in California in which a lone attacker killed eight individuals and injured several others, citizens living in the only country where this kind of mass killing routinely occurs reportedly concluded Wednesday that there was no way to prevent the massacre from taking place."

I suspect some would not even see the contradiction. 

Especially in Iowa, where our GOP-controlled Legislature during its recently concluded session passed legislation that (1) will allow adults to purchase and carry concealed handguns without first obtaining a permit and (2) limits the types of lawsuits that can be filed against gun and ammunition manufacturers.

Live from the Mission Dolores parking lot ...

All of the virtual choral music innovations of the last 14 months have been amazing, but there's nothing quite like a live performance. So I was there (virtually) on Saturday --- Harvey Milk Day --- to watch the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus perform in person for the first time since March of 2020 --- socially distanced but free of masks --- in the Mission Dolores Basilica parking lot.

There had been no face-to-face practice sessions, so the selections all were familiar pieces performed many times. 

Holly Near's "Singing for Our Lives," for example, performed for the first time by chorus members who walked from their fourth formal rehearsal during the fall of 1978 to join a candlelight vigil on the steps of San Francisco City Hall on Nov. 27, 1978, following the assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone.

And Billy Steinberg's and Tom Kelly's "True Colors," most notably performed by Cyndi Lauper.

Here's the YouTube version of Saturday's performance, released Tuesday by the chorus:

Nine years later: A proper Decoration Day

Monday's post consisted of Chariton Patriot editor W.H. Maple's 1875 lament about the lack of a proper  Decoration Day observance in Chariton (Decoration Day "everywhere but in Chariton").

Nine years later, during May of 1884, Lucas County was well on its way to establishing a tradition of remembrance that would endure throughout the remainder of the 19th and much of the 20th centuries as hundreds gathered to honor the fallen annually. 

The featured orator that Memorial Day was Josiah T. Young (1831-1907), Civil War veteran, lawyer, sometimes newspaper editor and politician, who was serving as Albia's mayor at the time. During the 1870s, he had served Iowa as secretary of state and during the 1890s, would serve the area as state representative.

Here's the report from The Patriot of June 4, 1884:

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Memorial day in this city was celebrated by the largest assemblage of citizens, young and old, that ever came together in Chariton to honor the nation's dead. It was a beautiful day, and throughout the program was carried out without delay or tiresome waiting.

The G.A.R. turned out in their new uniforms, and the old fellows quickened their step as the drum corps struck up the old familiar tunes. The Gayoso Encampment, K. of P., and Odd Fellows turned out. The fire department made a fine display.

After strewing the graves with flowers, the people returned to the courthouse square and were addressed by the Hon. Josiah T. Young, of Albia, the orator of the day. Mr. Young's address was replete with the memories of the past, as well as the great lessons the war taught this people. We can't repeat the story too often.

The moral government of the universe takes note of the conduct of nations as of individuals, and no nation in the history of the world has been able to trample under foot the great principles of justice and moral law with impunity.

We, as a people, had acquiesced and defended the most cruel system of human slavery in all history. A revolution was sure to come. The most advanced minds perceived the danger and warned the nation of the coming storm. But we were too busy making money and would not listen, but derided those whose prophetic vision pierced the future as fanatics, and the people stoned and cursed them.

When the guns at Sumpter awoke the people of the north, they found the black demon of slavery at the throat of the nation. Liberty was to be strangled because the nation could not endure half slave and half free. In the great struggle which followed, freedom conquered and a new nation was born, under whose protecting power the humblest citizen finds security.

These men whom we honor died that liberty might not perish from off the earth. The war was a mighty conflict between two distinct systems of civilizations and ideas of government, and we know that the right prevailed. These are the great facts of history not to be forgotten.

Miss Alice Rea recited a poem, "The Nation's Dead," and was warmly applauded. Altogether the day and the heroic memories were most faithfully commemorated in Chariton.

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The citizens of our neighboring town of Lucas observed Memorial day with very appropriate ceremonies. All the Sabbath schools and churches, as well as a number of orders, turned out, and the day was spent in singing, speech making and social talk and enjoyment.

Short and impressive addresses were delivered by John R. Evans, Adam Fletcher, George Reeside Esq., and J. Y Stier, editor of the Lucas Ledger. A fine brass band and drum corps furnished the instrumental music, while the air was vocal with the singing of hundreds of Sabbath school children, conducted by Mr. Richards, of Lucas, and Mr. Wm. Jones, of Cleveland.

The people of Lucas and Cleveland do wisely to bring the children together on decoration day and teach them the never-to-be-forgotten story which the day commemorates, and the lessons of national history it teaches, in having them join in singing of the deeds and patriot services of the dead heroes. In thus keeping alive in the hearts of the young the memory of what it cost to preserve the nation, our neighbors set an example that might be profitably followed by larger communities.

Decoration Day "everywhere but in Chariton"

The practice of observing Decoration Day (now known as Memorial Day) seems to have caught on rather late in Chariton, seat of a county that had lost more than 150 of its young men during the late Civil War --- and W.H. Maple, editor and publisher of The Chariton Patriot, was incensed.

"Have we no soldiers buried in our cemetery? If so, would it not be well to honor their memories by scattering a few flowers on their graves the 30th inst.? Every other town almost observes 'Decoration Day' with some appropriate ceremony and by adorning the graves of Union soldiers with a few flowers, and why not Chariton?" he asked in his edition of May 19, 1875.

Decoration Day had been widely observed in the North since 1868, when Gen. John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, called for a national observance to recognize the sacrifice of the Union dead. Most states obliged, setting May 30 as the date --- primarily, it would seem, because the best selection of fresh flowers with which to decorate graves would be available on that date.

By 1875, Chariton was served by two cemeteries --- the Chariton Cemetery, then 11 years old, and Old Douglass, with origins dating back to the first Euro-American settlement of the county. And there certainly would have been graves to decorate in both.

Oliver W. Coffman, for example, had been buried at Douglass after he died on Dec. 26, 1863, sent home from the front in the hope he might recover his shattered health. Alexander Van Meter had died in Chariton under similar circumstances the previous May 4. He, too, may have been buried at Douglass although his tombstone now is located in the Chariton Cemetery.

And some veterans had died, too, during the 10 years after the war had ended, including brother physicians Dr. Joseph Jay, died July 28, 1866, and Dr. Henry Jay, died Dec. 28, 1868, who had ruined their own health while caring for young men serving in Iowa units during the war. They are buried in the Chariton Cemetery.

Mr. Maple's lament in that long-ago Patriot edition was quite long and continues as follows:

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It may do the fallen and dead ones no good, but yet we believe, in as much as gratitude is all we can pay them, that they should be remembered by some such token of regard as the above.

It is but a few years since many who are now mouldering beneath the heavy clods that bear them down in their narrow chambers, were baring their breasts to the enemy and braving the storm of battle for our common good. And is it possible that they are so soon forgotten?

We do not know how many of the boys in blue are lying in our little city of the dead, south of town, but there are, doubtless, some noble, brave-hearted souls there who are calling upon us from their home beyond the river not to forget their daring and patriotism that prompted them into the deadly breach and caused them to be taken prematurely from us.

It is hard to estimate how much of present enjoyment and prosperity we owe to the defenders of our flag and our union, but doubtless much, and this debt we should pay by a kindly remembrance of their service. It seems but yesterday when armed thousands were striking at the country's life, and when the flowing blood and the ghastly upturned faces of fallen heroes reminded us that war, terrible and unrelenting, was upon us, and that it was necessary that some breasts should be bared for the conflict, that our altars and our fires should be protected from the invader, and our government be saved from the traitors' hands that assailed it.

But how little do we now think of the patriotism, the trials and the fortitude of the Union soldiers, and the sufferings of those who died on the battlefield or in the hospital away from home in friends? It may not be the most pleasant reminiscence in which we could indulge, but we believe that it is a profitable one and one we owe ourselves and those whose memory we would honor, and we, therefore, make the suggestion that arrangements be made to strew some fragrant blossoms on the graves of our soldier dead on the coming Decoration Day.

Who knows what pleasure it may give the departed ones, or what incense it may be before the God of battles, who is also a God of gratitude, who delighteth in giving "honor to whom honor is due." 

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If Mr. Maple were expecting a response to his editorial from the community, he was disappointed. His report in the June 2 edition of the Patriot was brief --- "Last Sunday was Decoration Day everywhere but in Chariton."

A few years later, during the fall of 1879, Daniel Iseminger Post No. 18, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized in Chariton --- and after that Decoration Day programs, some of them quite elaborate, became a regular part of life in Lucas County.

Nature's sermon on Pentecost Sunday

I swiped this morning's illustration --- and quote --- from the Facebook feed of Jim Palmer, a recovering evangelical pastor best known for writing about his journey out of Christianity.

"We lost connection with the earth and sun and moon and stars, and then we constructed roofs and walls to meet with God. We traded in our deep intimate relationship with nature for bricks and mortar. We have left our first love. We search for the divine in books and buildings, unaware that the universe is calling our name through the rustling of the leaves and timeless moments between darkness and light."

Something to think about for those of us, now in the minority, who for one reason or another still attend church services regularly.

The sun is shining here on Pentecost Sunday for the first time in many days --- but services for the most part will take place in large rooms, some dim and others bright, where the view of the sun and all the natural world that it supports is blocked. Very odd that.

Tullis Sharp: Cut to pieces by the cars

It took quite a while earlier this week to sort out the identity of the 12-year-old lad who died tragically overnight May 30-31, 1871, on Burlington & Missouri River Railroad tracks just east of Lucas.

Although the death was duly reported in The Chariton Democrat of June 3 under the headline "Fearful Accident --- A Boy Cut to Pieces by the Cars," editor John V. Faith's creative spelling of the victim's name obscured his identity. Here's a transcript of the article:

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On Wednesday morning, the remains of a boy about 12 years old were found on the railroad track, a mile this side of Lucas Station. From appearances he had first been run over by the train going west, and then by the next one coming east.

Coroner Huyck was notified of the matter, and he proceeded to the spot and held an inquest. Nothing could be learned of the boy, who he was or where he came from, nor the circumstances under which he met his death, but it was the opinion that he had attempted to climb upon the train while it was in motion, and the verdict of the jury was, "killed by the cars."

His remains were collected together, put into a small box and brought to town and buried. Every effort was made to identify him, but without success, until next morning, when his brother, a lad of 15, came to town upon the hunt of him,  without knowing that he had been killed.

It seems that the unfortunate child was named Pallace Sharke, and that his  mother lives at Osceola. The boys had started out to hunt work, and being without money and night coming upon them, they had lain down near the railroad track to sleep. Pallace was subject to somnambulism, or sleep-walking, and it  appears that in one of those fits he wandered upon the track, near where his remains were found.

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After quite a bit of thrashing around via Ancestry.com and other references, I finally was able to figure out that the victim was 12-year-old Tullis H. Sharp and the brother, Ebin D. Sharp, who actually was about 17 at the time.

According to online databases, Tullis was born Sept. 7, 1853, in Wisconsin to New Jersey natives Joseph Mackey and Jane W. (Castner) Sharp and had settled near Smyrna in Clarke County with his parents at some point between 1862 and 1870.

The senior Sharps' marriage hit a terminal rough spot and they separated during the summer of 1870, then divorced.

Tullis actually was recorded twice in the 1870 federal census of Clarke County --- on July 14, when the family still was together in Green Bay Township; and again on August 17, by which time Jane and the children had moved to Osceola.

Where is Tullis buried? I just can't say. His unidentified remains probably were buried on May 31, 1871, in what we now call Douglass Pioneer Cemetery, just southwest of Chariton. While it's entirely possible that his family had the body disinterred and moved home to Clarke County, there's no tombstone anywhere to identify his final resting place.

Robert Roberts and death in the coal mines

Welsh coal miner Robert Roberts, whose eroded tombstone stands in Fry Hill Cemetery near Lucas, is among many Lucas Countyans who died as a result of injuries sustained while engaged in that dangerous occupation during the 60 years or so between 1880 and the early 1940s when mining was a major industry here. He was in his mid-30s but single at the time of his death on June 8, 1888, so no one was left behind to tell his story.

And his death did not occur here --- but in an accident in Bureau County, Illinois, where he and other experienced miners from the mining camp Cleveland had been sent to carry out development of a new enterprise for the Whitebreast Fuel Co.

The Chariton Herald's Cleveland correspondent, "Joe," reported his death this way in that newspaper's edition of June 14, 1888: "A cloud of gloom spread over our town on Friday last on receiving the news of the accident at Arlington, Ill., in which 4 or 5 of the men that went from here two weeks ago were badly hurt. One, Robert Roberts, a single man 34 years of age, died and was brought here and buried in the Cleveland cemetery last Sunday. The K. of P. and I.O. of O.F. attended the funeral in a body. It is said that Phillip Davis, Thos. Morgan and Isaac Morgan are hurt, but few know how much yet."

The Herald's Lucas correspondent, "Kate," reported the death this way: "The largest funeral ever attended in Cleveland was that of Mr. Bob Roberts, who was killed in a mine in Illinois. Three different orders marched to the cemetery to see their brother laid in his final resting place."

I found only one record of Mr. Roberts' life in Lucas County --- he was enumerated in the 1885 Iowa census of Cleveland as a single miner, age 31, born in Wales, who was boarding with the family of another Welsh miner, Eli Nichols and his wife, Margaret, and their five children.

The Whitebreast Fuel Co., which had developed and was operating the Cleveland mines during the late 1870s into the 1890s, had purchased the rights to mine coal underlying some 10,500 acres of Bureau County land during the spring of 1888 and then dispatched experienced miners from Cleveland to sink the first shaft.

According to an online history of the village of Ladd --- a small town that developed from the original Whitebreast mining camp in Bureau County --- "The miners had a great deal of difficulty sinking the shaft. The soft, treacherous ground was full of pockets of sand and water that would rush in and make the shaft unusable, and it was also interspersed with large boulders. After a year and a half and six attempts at sinking a shaft, they finally had three viable shafts."

So we know the setting of the accident that killed Robert, although not the precise circumstances.

Twenty years later, during mid-November 1909, long after Whitebreast had sold its mining interests in Bureau County, the nearby Cherry Mine was the scene of one of the greatest U.S. mining disasters --- 259 men and boys lost their lives

Until it's full groan ...

Whilst searching for the meaning of life this morning in the social media, I kept my eyes open for something appropriate to summarize the most recent session of the Iowa Legislature, which concluded just before midnight. This kind of works.

It's been a session when the Republican majority, bleating about freedom of choice, passed last-minute legislation banning local school districts from continuing student mask mandates for the balance of the year --- among other things.

It's been a session when the Republican majority, bleating about freedom of choice, passed on the first round a constitutional amendment designed to restrict women's reproductive health choices.

As Granny always said, never trust a Christian or a Republican when he or she starts bleating about free will because the free will he or she has in mind is his or hers --- not yours.

Twin hearts and a 45-year love story ...

I wrote a little about the 45-year love story of Ed Dawson and Cliff Jensen last October in a piece entitled "Longtime companions" a day or two after Cliff's ashes had been interred next to Ed's grave in the Chariton Cemetery.

Ed was a 1960 graduate of Chariton High School who, after a three-year stint in the U.S. Army, moved to Chicago and studied computer science. He went to work for General Electric and by 1993, when he died at age 50, had risen through the ranks to the position of production comptroller for that corporation.

Some 20 years earlier, he had met Cliff, a designer, and they settled down together in Elmwood Park, Illinois. After Ed's death, Cliff continued to live in their Elmwood Park home and remained involved in the life of Ed's widowed mother, Genevieve, until her death during 2007. Ed had been an only child.

Cliff died during 2018 at the age of 77 and it was left to his sister, Jacky Rakstang, to handle final arrangements in accordance with his wishes. Among many other things, that involved arranging for his ashes to be interred in the spot set aside for them just south of Ed's grave in the Chariton Cemetery.

Earlier this month, I noticed that the foundation had been installed for Cliff's tombstone, then last week it was put into place --- a heart-shaped monument that's nearly a twin to the stone he'd placed at Ed's grave 28 years earlier. That stone bears the inscription, "Precious Memories"; the new stone, "Partners: Together Forever."

So there you have it --- a 45-year love story commemorated in twin hearts. 

The following image of Ed and Cliff was taken during a trip to Switzerland in 1987 and is now part of the Lucas County Historical Society collection.

The minor mysteries of little Emma's tombstones

Had Find a Grave been available back in 1935, one of Lucas County's minor tombstone mysteries could have been clarified --- if not resolved --- many years ago. But because it wasn't, the following brief report in The Chariton Leader of July 2, 1935, published under the headline "Discover Old Grave Stone in Fire Ruins," left readers scratching their heads:

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A grave marker made of native stone was discovered Wedneday by O.D. Jessup and Dewey Jessup as they were clearing away debris from the fire which June 17 destroyed the home of Dewey Jessup four miles south of Chariton.

The marker had the following inscription: "Emma, daughter of J.B. and C.L. Rodgers, died Mar. 17, 186."

It is thought that the house may have been originally erected on a cemetery site. A more likely theory, however, is that the stone never was placed on a grave. Since the date is not complete and much of the lettering imperfect, it  may be that the marker was discarded and eventually made its way into the foundation of the house.

The home destroyed June 17 was owned by O.D. Jessup, father of Dewey. It is to be replaced by a bungalow, 22x26, one story, of frame construction, they said.

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Now, thanks to Find a Grave, it's easy to determine that little Emma has a perfectly good tombstone --- located in Mount Zion Cemetery, some distance northwest of Chariton. But there still are oddities. Her father's name was John B. Rodgers, so his initials were accurate on the mystery marker but incorrect on the final product. Her mother's name was Louisiana R. Rodgers, accurately expressed on the Mount Zion stone, not so on the native stone marker.

John and Louisiana and their family were living on a farm in Liberty Township, probably in the neighborhood of Mt. Zion Church and Cemetery, when the 1870 census was taken, but had moved to Fremont County in far southwest Iowa by 1880 and both reportedly died there during that decade. 

Little Emma is not alone at Mt. Zion, however. Her maternal grandparents, Richard and Elizabeth Welch, are buried there, too, as is one of her great-grandmothers, Sarah Francis Dunham.

But how a version of her tombstone ended up in the foundation of a house four miles south of Chariton we'll probably never know.

A young man with "kindly nature, sympathetic soul"

I've created a virtual tombstone this morning for a young man with "a kindly nature and a sympathetic soul" named William Thomas Musgrove who died in Chariton during late February, 1875, and was buried on the 28th in the Chariton Cemetery. The only record of his passing is a brief item in The Chariton Patriot of March 3, 1875. 

I have no idea exactly how old Mr. Musgrove was, who he was related to or where he came from originally. But sparse reports suggest that he had lived in Lucas County before, then gone south to Texas to teach formerly enslaved children and returned to Iowa after white Texans demolished that state's new public education system to ensure, in part, that black children were not educated equally. There is no death record, no probate record and no entry for his burial in cemetery records.

The latter is not surprising. He most likely was buried in Potters Field and there are no records of any burials there until after the turn of the 20th century. Cemetery owner James Eddington Stanton said during 1902, however, that there had been 78 interments since 1864 in what then was a remote area some distance south of the main burying ground.

Here's The Patriot report of Mr. Musgrove's death, published under the headline, "Dead and buried."

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We were pained to learn on Sunday afternoon that the funeral procession of Thomas Musgrove, who has been for some time acting as night watch for the town, had just passed out to the cemetery. Mr. Musgrove was a young man of more than ordinary intelligence, and possessed so many good traits that it seemed hard to learn of his long illness and death, at a hotel, with no one but strangers to administer to his wants.

He had been sick, we learn, for several weeks, but from some cause, many of those who would have exerted themselves to attend to his wants were ignorant of his sickness, and he was compelled to lie, and suffer, and die, without a relative to soothe his sufferings, or the attention that friends would have given him if they had known of his sickness.

Mr. Musgrove has taught several terms of school in this county, and for some time was a teacher in the colored schools of Texas, and in the interest that he took in the welfare of the colored people, he showed forth a generosity and magnanimity of disposition that marked him in our estimation as a young man of rather rare parts.

He was poor in the world's goods and without relatives entirely, so far as we know, but he had a kindly nature and a sympathetic soul, and for those things we liked him and, on our own motion, announce with sadness his death and burial.

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I found two other references to Mr. Musgrove in The Patriot. On Dec. 31, 1873, its editor reported that "W. T. Musgrove gave us a call Monday. Mr. M. was formerly a resident of this place but for the past four years has been living in Texas engaged in teaching. But since the abolition of the free school system of that state by the Democratic Legislature, school teaching is rather dangerous employment for northern men. He found among the colored children many very apt scholars."

And then on May 27, 1874, The Patriot reported that "The City Council lately employed Wm. Musgrove as night watch. He makes an efficient officer."

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While there's no way to tell for sure, it's possible that Mr. Musgrove had been among northern teachers recruited after the Civil War by the American Missionary Alliance to teach in Freedmen's Bureau schools in Texas. By 1870, there were 88 of these schools --- designed specifically to educate the formerly enslaved and their children --- and 85 teachers, 44 of whom were black. 

The Reconstruction Legislature in Texas facilitated the work of these schools by legislatively ending public segregation in the state and, during 1870, creating a unified statewide public education system.

As southern Democrats regained control in Texas during 1873, however, segregation was formally reinstated and most legislation passed by the Reconstruction administrations was repealed. That would have been about the time that Mr. Musgrove returned to Iowa.

Russell Cemetery's first burial: Samuel Hawkins

As Memorial Day approaches, I thought it would be interesting to figure out who was the first to be buried in the Russell Cemetery, just in case folks wanted to pay their respects while decorating and/or visiting graves in the next couple of weeks.

I've written before about the cemetery's history, "How the Russell Cemetery got its start," and about the most likely contender for the dubious distinction of being first, "Russell's Samuel Hawkins: Mark every grave." Follow either link for more information.

But at the time, I had not found the following two paragraphs about cemetery history written by Susan Day in 1914 to be read as part of a longer paper at that year's fall festival, then republished in The Union-Tribune in 1932 as part of the town's 65th anniversary celebration.

"April 2, 1879, a cemetery association met in the Presbyterian church for the purpose of obtaining land for a cemetery. The ten acres in the northeast corner of the southeast one-fourth of the northwest one-fourth of section five was chosen and condemned by the township trustees and the owner was paid $300, and the costs were $15, making the cost of the land to the cemetery association $315. The cemetery was immediately surveyed and platted in 1686 lots by J.B. Fitch. The first person buried in the cemetery was Samuel Hawkins, in 1879. A little child of M.M. Prather had been buried at the east edge of the cemetery and was taken up and placed in a lot after it was platted.

"The directors of the Russell Cemetery Association for the first year were: J.S. Johnston, John M. Hanlin, James H. Cook, George C. Boggs and Alfred Goodwin. The Association had charge of the cemetery until 1912 when it was turned over to the control of the township trustees."

There are a couple of inaccuracies here, however. The Washington Township trustees --- Barney O'Hair, G.C. Boggs and J.S. Johnston --- had filed suit during January 1879 to condemn the cemetery site and default judgment was granted to them during February. So the property already was in hand and most likely already had been platted by April 2.

The Cemetery Association was formed, most likely, to reimburse township trustees for the cost of the property and to provide a permanent organization to develop, operate and maintain it.

Samuel Hawkins --- an uncle to Russell's substantial Hawkins family --- died March 3, 1879, at the age of 35 and thus was the first burial. His wife, Peninah, had died Jan. 22, 1876, but her death occurred in Fremont County and her remains were brought from there to the Russell Cemetery, as directed by Samuel's will, after his death.

Pearl Prather, born Aug. 1, 1876, and died April 2, 1879, would have been the second burial in the cemetery a month later. She was a daughter of Marion Melvin (1853-1925) and Imogene (Boyer) Prather (1854-1938), buried nearby. If Miss Day is correct, her remains were buried first in one place and then moved to another.

It's possible to find graves in the cemetery of others who died prior to 1879, including Jonathan Aldrich (1816-1877) and three of his infant children, Arabella (1854-1865) and twins Carlton and Charlton (May 20-21, 1872), but these remains were moved from Greenville to Russell in 1881 by Margaret Aldrich, wife and mother.

Samuel Hawkins appears to be assured of his first-burial distinction.

Letting those masks down, at least a little

Did a little grocery shopping yesterday --- without wearing a mask. And it felt good. No matter how often I've put one of those things on during the last year, I'm still claustrophobic and have to remind myself that, yes, I still can breathe and, no, a panic attack is unnecessary. 

Actually, I'd made a quick maskless trip into and out of the store a day earlier --- before the new CDC guidelines were released. I'd loaded a big plant into a cart and was trying to push it inside and put on my mask at the same time when the strap snapped.

And then there was the pre-graduation reception last weekend. It was held in a big venue with plenty of space to social distance, but the return-to-normalcy ordinariness of the event undid me. Preoccupied with getting a card ready and getting there, I didn't realize I wasn't wearing a mask (and didn't have one in my pocket) until I'd been there a few minutes.

I'll be happy to continue wearing a mask when asked or required or it seems wise to do so, recalling that many have not yet gotten their shots and that many others, apparently, will decline to do so. You'd really like to slap those in the latter category up the side of the head and ask, "What are you thinking, fool?"

And there are all sorts of other considerations. The virus continues to rage elsewhere in the world and new variants will arrive here. We don't know how long the vaccines we've received will be effective. And those who have not been immunized remain a threat to each other. It will be interesting to watch the infection rate now that masking recommendations have been revised.

Despite the revised recommendations, businesses, public offices, health-care institutions and many other agencies and/or institutions and organizations have every right in the world to demand that you put on a mask before entering. So get over yourself if you think your rights to infect are being infringed upon. And employers certainly can demand that new hires get their shots.

Don't expect to travel far outside the United States until the rest of the world has an adequate supply of vaccines --- and even then proof of immunization (or extensive testing and perhaps quarantines) most likely will be required. That's among the reasons why some sort of "passport" is not a threat but instead would be a useful tool in the worldwide community.

We've learned a lot about communicable diseases during the last year --- and about ourselves as citizens of a state, a nation and the world. Some of it hasn't been especially attractive.

Motor madness invades the Chariton Cemetery

Pesky automobiles were proliferating in Chariton as Decoration Day 1911 approached --- and one of the principal perpetrators in this transportation revolution was the Schreiber Carriage Manufacturing Co., broadening its market by offering the mighty Chalmers. This advertisement was published in The Leader of April 13.

Six weeks later, motor madness had spread as far as the Chariton Cemetery, where two ladies out for a pleasant drive among the graves in their horse and buggy were among the innocent victims. Here's how The Herald-Patriot of June 1 reported the incident:

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Decoration Day seemed to be an unfortunate day with the autos. Mrs. Elsie Graves and Mrs. Guy Graves were driving their horse through the cemetery in the afternoon when M.V. Adams and Sherman Miller, in their autos, met at a corner and frightened the horse, which turned quickly and upset the buggy, badly bruising Mrs. Guy Graves and breaking both of Mrs. Elsie Graves' arms, the left arm near the shoulder and the right one near the wrist. The injured ladies are resting well now.

Mr. Jos. Griffin's horse also was scared in the afternoon by an auto on north Grand street that was standing still, and swerved to one side of the street, over the curbing. In his efforts to stop it, Mr. Griffin had three ribs broken.

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That edition of The Herald-Patriot also included this stiff warning to speed-crazed motorists, under the headline: "Speed Limit Ten Miles."

Mayor Larimer is planning an enforcement of the speed ordinances and the state law on the speed of automobiles inside city limits. He does not want an accident in Chariton such as happens in nearly every town where auto drivers are allowed to run as they please. Drivers of autos become speed crazy, and otherwise thoughtful and considerate men seem to forget all about the safety of pedestrians, and especially children, when they get behind the steering wheel of an auto. There are dozens of autos in Chariton that have been in the habit of running 30 miles an hour or faster through the streets. Many old people are getting afraid to send their children down town on errands. The speed craze ought to be stopped. There is no need of it.

The Lenig windmill stands tall again ...

Thanks to our friends at Alliant Energy, the Lenig windmill has been resurrected --- raised Wednesday on the Lucas County Historical Society Museum campus in a new location just slightly down the hill west of the Pioneer Barn.

The windmill --- a representative of the hundreds that once were scattered across Lucas County and used primarily to raise well water for livestock and sometimes people --- was taken down and disassembled a couple of years ago to clear a path for the paved handicap-accessible trail that now wraps around the barn as it leads downhill from the Pioneer Cabin to the Blacksmith Shop. The new location is just down the hill slightly from the old.

After that, board member Jim Secor took the windmill's base, cut loose when it was moved, to Ron Christensen, who welded new legs onto it. Those legs then were mounted in concrete and the windmill's support framework hinged to it.

Board members Mike Smith and Jim then worked with Alliant to bring two big trucks to the campus on Wednesday to raise the base, then lift the fan and the tail --- both of which had been in storage --- into place and secure them. Many thanks to everyone involved!

We're getting ready to open the museum to guests again during early June --- after slightly more than a year of being open by appointment only due to COVID-19. We'll not be hosting our usual summer events this year because of continuing concerns, but are looking forward to welcoming visitors! Stay tuned for further details.

Not a friend of progress, Cheney at least is honest

I've been catching up on my reading this morning about U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) --- the dawn of the day upon which she is expected to be ousted from her post as House Republican Caucus chair.

Make no mistake. Cheney's agenda --- social, fiscal, etc. --- remains deplorable.

But at least she's honest in her assessment of the former Donald Trump and his lies, unlike a majority of her colleagues, who continue to worship at the feet of that raddled parody of humanity.

As such, she remains an enemy of progress but not of democracy and deserves commendation for the latter.

Here's a link to New York Times coverage of Cheney's continuing saga.

 

Geo. Beekman Van Arsdale's magnificent mustache

George Beekman Van Arsdale, scion of a once-prominent Lucas County family that has managed to vanish entirely (except for tombstones in the Chariton Cemetery and a variety of artifacts in the Lucas County Historical Society collection), was in his mid-20s and operating a gentleman's clothing shop in Russell when photographed just prior to 1900 with his magnificent mustache.

His parents, Peter Van Der Veer and D'Maris (Van Dorn) Van Arsdale, arrived in Chariton from Illinois during 1872 from Illinois and acquired a large farm astraddle what now is U.S. Highway 34 just east of town that included the forepart of what now is Red Haw State Park.

George was born there during 1873, an only son with four sisters, one of whom died young. Educated in Chariton schools and at a business college in Burlington, he engaged in retail for a time while in his 20s at Russell and elsewhere, then returned home to take over the family farming business.

He married Grace Cheney during 1900 and then returned to Lucas County and life as something of a gentleman farmer. He also became widely known as a community leader in Chariton, serving two terms as mayor in the 1920s and another, in the 1930s. His occupation generally was given as "prominent landowner." The epitaph inscribed on his tombstone reads, "A Man of Honor." And that seems to have been just what he was.

The Van Arsdales had no children. Their relatively modest final home, which they built for themselves, still stands at 815 Grace Avenue. He suffered a stroke there during July of 1942, age 69, and died a week later at St. Joseph's Hospital in Ottumwa. Grace died two years later.

More than 20 years later, soon after the Lucas County Historical Society was organized, the last of the Van Arsdale siblings --- Inda (Van Arsdale) Post, then living with her husband, Charles, in Florida --- packed up many of the smaller Van Arsdale family treasures and shipped them to Chariton to be added to the collection. And that's how this photograph of George made its way home to Lucas County.

Chariton High School's Class of 1883

Chariton High School graduated its first class in 1878, but the concept of a publicly funded institution that offered education beyond the basic eight grades was slow to catch on. By 1883, class size had grown to 10 --- the young women shown here in a photograph from the Lucas County Historical Society collection.

High school rooms at the time were located in what was later was christened the Columbus School building. They were moved during 1901 into a new building, eventually named Alma Clay, that stood on part of the site of the current high school.

Commencement exercises were held on Friday evening, May 25, in the Mallory Opera Hall on the northwest corner of the square.

The graduates are identified on the back of the photograph, but it's not entirely clear in which order. As best I can figure it out the students are (standing from left) Augusta Householder, Rosa K. Freel and Nellie Hollinger; (second row) Fannie Cortelyou, Kate Marshall, Alice Rea and Ida Beem; and (front row) Mollie B. Freel, Mattie C. Blizzard and Laura Reeside.

Chariton High School's "Twentieth Century Class"

Yesterday's pre-graduation reception for my neighbor, the accomplished Ms. Madelyn, served to remind that commencement exercises for the Chariton High School Class of 2021 are just a week away --- scheduled for 3 p.m. next Sunday in the high school gymnasium. Graduation was disrupted last year by COVID-19, but will proceed this year --- masks are mandatory, however. There will be 69 graduates.

Looking back 120 years --- to the 27 CHS graduates who called themselves the "Twentieth Century Class" --- the contrasts are notable. Chariton was about the same size with a population of  4,000 (today, it's about 4,250), but class size was considerably smaller. A high school education still was not considered necessary by many; a number of small private schools were in operation, too. And only five of the 27 graduates were young men.

Graduation itself was a two-evening affair --- each graduate was expected to speak during the exercises and that required time. The program, as published in The Democrat of May 16, is at the top here. The site was the second-floor assembly hall of the brand new high school building, later named Alma Clay in honor of a beloved teacher, which had just opened its doors in the spring.

The congregation of First Baptist Church had taken on the responsibility the previous Sunday of organizing a baccalaureate service in conjunction with its regular morning service. A majority of class members attended and heard an encouraging sermon by the Rev. Wilson Mills.

The Chariton Herald, in its edition of May 16, also offered readers an introduction to the 27 graduates, as follows:

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The Chariton high school has twice graduated larger classes than the one this year will be, there having been 38 members in the class of 1897 and 33 in the class of 1898. This year's class consists of 27 members and has named itself the "Twentieth Century Class." It takes the prize for good looks, if not for numbers. The members will each deliver a graduation oration at exercises to be held in the high school hall on next Thursday and Friday evenings. Following is the personnel of the class:

Ethel Whitten was born in Lexington, Nebraska, April 9, 1884. She entered the Chariton schools at the age of nine years and reached the high school in 1897.

Lilly Belle Redlingshafer was born on a farm about seven miles southeast of Chariton in 1882. She started to the Myers school, about a mile from her home, at the age of seven. She attended there until she graduated in 1898 and in the fall of this year entered the Chariton high school.

Katharine Vollmar was born in Mt. Ayr, Ia., Nov. 11, 1885. Her's has been the real life of an itinerant's daughter. She has attended school at Stuart, Ia., going her first day at that place. She also attended at Girard, Garnett and Paola, Kansas, finishing the grammar grade at the last named place. In 1897 she attended school at Corydon and the following year her father was appointed pastor of the M.E. church of this city and she finishes her common school course in Chariton.

Maude Boylan was born in Chariton on August 31, 1884. All of her education has been received at the school buildings of our city under an able corps of teachers.

John Milton Burr Reed was born three and one-half miles south of Chariton, Dec. 2, 1883. Commenced to attend school here at the age of six, always attending here.

Nettie M. Spencer was born in Chariton, November 15, 1882. Her parents have always lived here, and she has been a regular attendant at the schools in this city since she reached the age of seven years; entering the high school in 1897.

Lizzie Dorsey was born in Chariton in 1883 and started school at the age of five years. Entered the high school in 1897.

Agnes Mae Bellor was born in this city Jan. 19, 1883. at the age of five, she entered school at the old Bancroft building, was transferred to the Columbus  building. Entered the high school in 1897.

Freda A. Larson was born in Chariton, April 20, 1882. Started to school at the age of seven at the Columbus building and later was transferred to the Franklin building. Entered the high school in 1897.

Rena Criswell was born in Afton, July 27, 1883. Entered the primary grade of Villisca school and remained there until the spring of 1898 when she entered the Chariton high school and will finish the Latin course.

Ethel Grace Evans was born in Washington township, Sept. 25, 1881. Started to school in the home district at the age of six. Also attended school at Delphos, Afton and Red Oak. In the spring of 1992, she returned to the old home in this county and completed the common school course in 1897, entering the Chariton high school in the fall of 1898.

John Martin Law was born in Chariton, November 7, 1882. At the age of five he started to school at the old Bancroft building and has received transfers to five different school buildings, entering the high school in 1897.

Agnes Wilson was born in Rock Island, Ill., March 29, 1883. She entered the primary grade of Chariton school. At the age of nine she went to Mt. Ayr and attended school there for four years. She then returned to Chariton, entering the high school in 1897.

Mary Elizabeth Carpenter was born on a farm seven miles southeast of Chariton Dec. 12, 1883. Received her early education in the country schools and entered the Chariton high school in 1898.

John Leo Carpenter was born seven miles south of Chariton Jan. 13, 1885. At the age of five he commenced school at the Braden school, entered the Chariton high school in 1898.

Dorothy Carroll was born at Lucas Oct. 28, 1884. Entered Lucas school at age of five, moved to Melrose at age of eight and to Chariton in 1890. Attended school at the Franklin building until she entered the high school in 1897.

Jessie Crowley was born in Chariton November 15, 1883. She has received all of her education in the proficient schools of Chariton.

Grace Richmond, the only colored student in the class, was born in Landcastle, Wis., June 29, 1882. She came to Chariton when quite young and has been a zealous student in the Chariton schools.

Gussie Leinen was born in Chariton Oct. 20, 1884. Entered school at the Columbus school and entered the high school in 1898. She attended German school one year in Burlington during this time.

Blanch Willoughby was born in Chariton July 30, 1883, and has received her education in the Chariton public schools.

Theo Bentley was born in Chariton Dec. 24, 1884. She started to school here but only attended a few months, when she went to Atlanta, Ga. she returned to Chariton in 1892 and has attended school here since that time.

Arlie Curtis was born in Chariton in 1883. He has at different times attended every school building in the city, entering the high school in 1897.

Carrie Edna Beswick was born in Whiteside county, Ill., August 15, 1882, and attended school there until 1898, when she came to Chariton, making her home with her aunt, Mrs. T.H. Milnes, and attending the Chariton high school.

Amanda Louisa Westling was born in Chariton April 13, 1884. At the age of five she commenced school at the Columbus building, but soon afterward was transferred to the Franklin building, entering the high school in 1897. She also attended the Swedish summer school for seven terms.

Clara Jane Rose was born in Templeton on June 12, 1884. When she was five years old, she first started to school in Canada while there on a visit. Upon returning to Chariton she attended school but later went to the Freedom school, south of the city. She entered in the high school in 1898.

Howard Melville Rose was born at Carroll, Dec. 7, 1885. When four years old he started school at the Columbus building in Chariton, but soon moved with his parents seven miles south of the city and attended the Freedom school. He returned to Chariton in 1898 and entered the high school.

Josephine Middleton was born in Fairbury, Nebr., in 1882. The first years of her school life were spent in Blue Springs, Nebr. Later she attended school in Ottumwa. In 1895 she went to Oskaloosa and attended school there until last year when she came to Chariton with her parents and entered the "Twentieth Century Class."

White folks are such fragile critters ....

I spent some time this morning looking at various reports on Iowa's racial mix and as nearly as I can tell the latest estimates place the percentage of white Iowans at 90.6; black, 4.1; and Asian, 2.7; with smaller numbers of mixed race, native and "other." Hispanic or Latino origin is not a racial category, but an estimated 6.3 percent of all the above share that background.

Of all the racial categories, white folks tend to be the most fragile --- so it's easy to understand why Republicans in the Legislature have approved and sent to the governor legislation limiting what can be taught in Iowa classrooms about race-related issues, both historical and contemporary, and/or during mandatory diversity training sessions for public employees. You can read more in this report from today's Des Moines Register.

Lawmakers are quick to point out that the legislation does not outlaw entirely discussion of topics they consider controversial --- if the right questions are asked; nor does it ban the topics entirely from public instruction. But especially for the latter, it muddies the water to the point that school districts (and public universities) must balance their need for public funding against the white Republican worldview when deciding what to teach and/or discuss and how to do it.

The next great threat facing the Legislature is how to deal with the hordes of transgender girls intent on competing against other girls in gymnasiums and on playing fields. Gov. Reynolds is hoping for legislation to address that non-issue before the session ends.

It's all a matter of perspective ...

This proposed verse for one the most popular Anglican hymns (we sing it frequently on Sunday mornings) grabbed my attention this morning --- and now I'm afraid it's going to come to mind each time the organist launches the introduction.

First published in 1848 and generally sung to a hymn tune composed in 1887, it has --- among other things --- provided a title for the fictionalized adventures, adapted for film and television, of a real-life Yorkshire veterinarian (James Alfred Wight) who used the pen name James Herriot.

This isn't the first time alterations have been made to the text, based on what was considered appropriate then and what is considered appropriate now. The following original stanza has for the most part vanished. 

The rich man in his castle,

The poor man at his gate,

God made them, high and lowly,

And ordered their estate.

Has the time come for "every mildew spore that blossoms" and other creepy-crawly things to have their place in hymnody? I can't really say.